Food Features

Curious wine lovers have likely noticed a new category emerging in recent years. “Natural” wines have been popping up on wine lists and in boutique wine shops throughout the country. And while the current trend can be traced back to the early 1980s, natural winemaking has existed for centuries. If you’re lucky enough to have […]

I’m not sure why I love camping so much. It’s quite an effort, especially when kids are involved. Yet each year when the frenetic pace of summer relaxes into the steady amble of autumn, I simply cannot wait to make the lists and haul out the gear and prep the food and get outside for […]

Though it’s only the middle of September, Oktoberfest officially begins this weekend. Over six million people will be attending Munich’s annual beer bash which goes on for 18 days. Oktoberfest has spread across the globe, with major celebrations taking place in such diverse places as Brazil, Australia, China, Argentina, Japan, South Africa and Hong Kong, […]

As I stepped outside early this morning the shot of air that greeted me was cold and crisp, a welcome indication that the seasons are beginning to shift. Now that we’re in the homestretch of summer, chilly mornings are giving way to warm afternoons and our gastronomic focus has switched from sweet corn and blueberries […]

Summer’s end is just around the bend. My tomatoes and cucumbers are starting to get scarce, but the capsicum plants I’ve been faithfully tending are heavy with peppers and ablaze with color. It’s time to preserve some of this bounty for enjoyment over the winter months. Homemade giardiniera is a delicious way to preserve the […]

It would be difficult to find a garden vegetable more versatile or resilient than okra. Tall plants with delicate cream and burgundy-tinted flowers give way to slender pointed pods that can be stewed, stuffed, blanched, sautéed, deep-fried, roasted, grilled or even eaten raw. The history of okra is a long one and deeply woven into […]

I have fond memories of dining at the old Baur’s Restaurant just south of the Statehouse back in the early 80s. Surrounded by legislators, lobbyists and journalists, Baur’s was our special occasion restaurant in our early years in Springfield. I even took our young daughter there for a birthday date and ordered the chateaubriand for […]

Crispy vegetable tempura is my favorite way to satisfy a State Fair-induced craving for fried food at home. Tempura is a Japanese preparation in which vegetables and seafood are dipped in a light batter and deep-fried until perfectly crisp and golden. Unlike so many of the fried creations that we Midwesterns are so familiar with, […]

One of my daily tasks at my first restaurant job was to make a “green sauce” to accompany our bison or quail dish. I never had a specific recipe to work from, just a general formula. Since our restaurant was a “farm-to-table” concept, I made my green sauce with whatever seasonal herbs our farmers brought […]

“Greens! Greens, and nothing but greens!” This line from the Witch’s entrance in the first act of Sondheim’s Into the Woods often runs through my mind on repeat as I attempt to wrangle my unruly midsummer garden. I truly love my botanical refuge and the nourishment it provides, but, honestly, keeping up with the deluge […]